Allan Lengel, editor of ticklethewire.com, is a veteran journalist who has covered law enforcement at major publications including the Washington Post and the Detroit News. He also served as an intern under the late investigative columnist Jack Anderson and was an adjunct journalism professor at the University of Maryland.
Note to Joe Biden — Give Secret Service Back the $13,000
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com What better way to show gratitude to the folks who protect your life than to charge them so they can protect your life? Makes sense? No! I don’t want to make a big deal out of this. After all, when you take into account the real costs of providing executive protection,…
Ouch! Make ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious Mess Go Away
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com OUCH! Make it stop. It’s becoming all too painful to see the Congressional probe into ATF’s highly-flawed operation dubbed Fast and Furious. Rep. Darrell Issa and Sen. Charles Grassley have been leading the charge into the investigation of the operation that encouraged Arizona gun dealers to sell to straw purchasers, all…
ATF’s Melson May Have a Second Wind; Should FBI Have Used Violent Gun Smuggler as Informant?
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com With the storm surrounding ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious getting more intense by the day, I thought it was time to step back and make some observations. One: Acting ATF Director Ken Melson, who seemed like a dead man walking earlier this monthafter word got out that he was going to…
The Clemens Case; Beware of the Hunt for Big Game
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com When you go hunting for big game — particularly dangerous targets — you better be prepared. You also better be a good aim. Screw up and it can cost you — particularly if it’s a lion or a tiger or some other creature that can devour you. The U.S. Attorney’s Office…
Could Blago Verdict Put U.S. Atty. Fitzgerald Back in Running for FBI Director?
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com It’s not that Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has to worry about his career. But on Monday, he got some redemption when a federal jury convicted the ever-too chatty ex-Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich on 17 of 20 public corruption charges. It was the second trial. The first had a rather embarrassing outcome….